Saturday, June 24th

 

Energy Firm Touts High-Producing Well

An Oklahoma energy firm is pleased with the initial output of a McClain County well. EOG Resources, which is based in Houston but has an office in Oklahoma City, reports a well near Newcastle is producing 1,000 barrels of oil and nearly 1,300 Mcf of natural gas per day.  The  Warhawk Well is in Sn section 7 of Township 9 North, Range 4 West a few miles northwest of Newcastle. It is in the Woodford formation of the South Central Oklahoma Oil Province (SCOOP). The well was drilled to a true vertical depth of nearly 9,000 feet. It took about four months to drill the well. It was spudded in January and completed April 25th.

State rig count steady; nation's count declines

Oklahoma's rig count held steady over the last week. There are 42 active drillings operating which is down from 60 rigs working at this same time last year. Nationwide the rig count stands a 682 which is off six from last week and down from 753 a year ago.

 

Chix Rodeo Now Set for Tonight and Tomorrow Afternoon

Rain postponed the opening of the annual Chickasha rodeo last night. Officials with the Chickasha Rodeo Foundation say there will still be two performances. Tonight's rodeo will get underway as scheduled, with Grand Entry at 8 p.m. and the winner of the queen contest will be announced. The second performance will be at 2 o'clock tomorrow afternoon. For those who purchased advance tickets, they can be used at either performance. Also, The Chickasha Rodeo Parade will take place as scheduled this afternoon in downtown Chickasha, starting at 4 o'clock.

 

Thousands of Ladybudgs Released into Duncan Community Garden

Here's an interesting story out of Duncan. Thousands of ladybugs have been released into the city's community garden -12,000 of them! While most bugs are considered pests and nuisances, ladybugs actually serve as an organic pesticide. Sheila DeCarlo is the manager of Duncan's Think Ability Garden.  She tells The Duncan Banner that the ladybugs eat the eggs of aphids, spiders, and whiteflies which do a lot of damage to vegetable plants. She says ladybugs take to plants with a little bit of water on the leaves. And, like most creatures including humans, they don't like being in the heat of the day, so they try to find a place to hide from the sun.

 

Talk Show Topics

Here's what we're talking about this weekend. Chickasha Police Chief GG Music is our guest on the KOOL Konversation. And Zack Bowles, director of the Like Skills Institute is the guest on Real Estate Today. Find podcasts of both programs under the Community tab on this website.

 

Obituary

Marilyn Hudson

Funeral for Marilyn Hudson, 80, of Edmond and formerly of Chickasha will be at 10:00 a.m. Monday, June 26th at Ferguson Funeral Home.

 

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Friday, June 23rd

 

Broadband Listening Tour Continues 

Officials with the Oklahoma Broadband Office continue their work to get information about high-speed internet deserts in the Sooner State. Representatives are criss-crossing the state holding listening tours to hear from residents about their issues with slow internet. Mike Sanders is the director of the state broadband office. He told members of the state broadband commission this week that it will be several months before a statewide map will be available showing which areas have the biggest need for the service. He estimates there are nearly 800,000 Oklahomans who have inadequate connectivity to the world wide web.

 

Saddle Up for the Chickasha Rodeo

Grab your jeans and cowboy hats and ride out to the annual Chickasha rodeo this weekend. The Chickasha Rodeo Foundation presents its 84th annual rodeo at the Grady County Fairgrounds. Cowboys will try to tame the rough stock with bronc busting and bull-riding, and will work to beat the clock and other contestants in speed events that include barrel racing, calf-roping, steer wrestling and team roping. The rodeo is both tonight and tomorrow night, with the Grand Entry starting at 8:00 p.m. both nights. The rodeo parade will wind down Chickasha Avenue at 4 o'clock tomorrow afternoon.

 

'Christmas in July' to Feature New Parade

The Chickasha Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development Council are getting ready for the annual Christmas in July celebration. A new event is called The Parade of Stars and Handlebars, which is a patriotic parade that will be held the morning of Independence Day, July 4th. It is a family-oriented event inviting residents to ride their bicycles and ATVs through Shannon Springs Park. The event is open to families and any groups or clubs. There is a registration fee with proceeds benefitting USO Oklahoma. Fees are $10 per person or family and $25 for groups. Participants can register on-line by Monday, July 3rd at chickashachamber.com or, register the morning of Tuesday, July 4th at 9 a.m. in the front parking lot of the park. The parade will start at 10 a.m. All entries will receive coupons for a free snow cone from Jungle Ice Fun Zone. Later that night will be the annual fireworks display at the park.

 

Patriotic Groups Unite

A couple of national patriotic groups are joining efforts to promote their missions of supporting military veterans and families. The Patriot Guard Riders and Wreaths Across America have signed a memorandum of understanding to build stronger awareness for their missions while supporting events across the country. The Patriot Guard Riders is a national non-profit group founded in 2005 and there are members in all 50 states. The group supports first responders as well as military veterans. Wreaths Across America was founded in 2007 and is known for its annual wreath-laying ceremony each year. Their mission is to remember the fallen, honor those who serve, and teach future generations the value of freedom. This year, the annual wreath-laying ceremony will be Saturday, December 16th.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $69.51 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $74.14.

Natural gas is $2.61 per million BTUS.

Gold is $1,927 and silver is $22.55.

 

Obituaries

Shannon Cooper-McAlester

Obituaries today include 43-year old Shannon Cooper-McAlester of Oklahoma City. Funeral will be held at 11:30 next Tuesday morning, June 27th at Western Avenue Baptist Church in Oklahoma City. Arrangements are with Brown-Thomas Funeral Home.

 

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Thursday, June 22nd

 

Verden Police Arrest Suspected Drug Traffickers

Two suspected drug traffickers are behind bars after Verden police noticed a couple of suspicious vehicles in town. This happened just after midnight Tuesday when an officer saw a car and a motorcycle driving around town. The vehicles pulled over at the water department and the officer went to talk to them. A post on the Verden Police Department's Facebook page indicates the officer detected an odor of marijuana in the car and the driver indicated it was not hers, but it belonged to the man on the motorcycle. He did not have his medical marijuana license with him. Following a routine check, both individuals had had their driver's licenses suspended. It was also found that the car had a false license plate. The officer then saw the motorcycle rider toss a bag near the front tire of the car. The bag contained drugs which field tested positive for meth and Fentanyl. Authorities arrested 48-year old Daniel Clay Mahan and 36-year old Kristi Skinner, both of Oklahoma City. The social media post indicates that Mahan has a lengthy criminal record, including convictions of drug charges and assault with a deadly weapon. Both suspects were booked into the Grady County Jail on complaints of aggravated trafficking. Mahan has had his initial appearance and he remains in jail on a $100,000 bond. Skinner has not yet been formally charged.

 

Mental Health Grant Approved for Chix Police Department

Police officers and other first responders often find themselves in dangerous and even deadly situations. There has been a concerted effort to help them deal with the mental strain of their occupations. This week, the Chickasha City Council signed off on a grant which will pay for mental health counseling for police officers. Police Chief G.G. Music requested a $4,000 grant from Oklahoma Electric Co-op's Operation Round-up grant program. It will pay for mental health counseling services for not only police officers but also their family members. Music detailed several incidents that officers have had to deal with over the last several years: a teenager killed by his neighbor; a woman stabbed to death by her husband; an officer-involving shooting where more than 200 rounds were fired and an officer was permanently disabled; and several Fentanyl related deaths and overdoses.

More from this week's city council meeting

Chickasha city hall will be getting some upgrades on its fire protection system. The city council this week accepted a nearly $26,000 bid from Alpine Fire Protection of Yukon to make the improvements. The council also approved the city’s annual contract with the Grady County Criminal Justice Authority which operates the Grady County Jail to house individuals arrested by Chickasha police. Also approved was the declaration of a number of items at the city animal shelter as surplus and the authorization of the city manager to dispose of the items. Some of the inventory includes traps that don't work, damaged fiberglass cat kennels; office equipment, and non-working exit signs.

 

Visitors Center to Open Downtown Chix

Downtown Chickasha will soon have an official visitors center. The city council, under its municipal authority title, approved a lease agreement with the Chickasha Community Foundation and Whitney Palesano. Palesano and her family will operate the center which will be known as Downtown Mercantile. The store will be located in the renovated Freight Building near the leg lamp. Palesano, who works for the Chamber of Commerce, will keep her post with the chamber while also operating the visitors center.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $72.53 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $77.12.

Natural gas is $2.60 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,936 and silver is $22.88.

 

Obituary

Deena Jamison

A private memorial service will be held for Deena Jamison, 59, of Chickasha. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

 

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Wednesday, June 21st

 

Chix Council OK's Intersection Repair; Work May Start Soon  

Chickasha officials say work to repair a damaged intersection could start as early as this Friday. The city council last night approved a nearly $288,000 bid from Mayfield Contracting of Clinton to repair the intersection of 14^th and Missouri which has been closed since it was damaged after heavy rains earlier this spring. Public Works Director Jim Crosby told the council that the company estimates that it may only take about three weeks to make repairs.

Water distribution upgrade approved; state asked to provide more funds

The council also approved a nearly $570,000 bid to upgrade the water distribution system east of 4th and Missouri, although the approval is subject to the availability of funds. The bid went to Marsau Enterprises of Enid. KOOL/RANCH News reported yesterday that the city was reaching out to the state  department of commerce asking the agency to increase a Community Development Block Grant the city is getting to help pay for the project as the estimated cost of the work was about $200,000 more than estimated. The city does have to provide some matching funds, and the council did approve providing an additional $25,000 in order to receive an additional $180,000 from the department of commerce. The state panel will meet next week to consider the request.

Airport project to lift off

The council also approved a nearly $600,000 project for the city's airport. The council awarded a nearly $466,000 contract to Tri City Seal to rehabilitate runways and taxi-ways. The panel also approved a grant application from the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission to help pay for much of that work.

Panel OK's zoning exemption for animals

The city council did a complete 180 on a previous decision about a zoning exemption to allow horses and goats in the city limits. After denying the exemption last month, the panel voted 6-0 to authorize the move. In a public hearing last night applicant Roosevelt May said they had resolved some differences with neighboring property owners who initially protested the plan, saying the animals would be kept in the back of the seven-acre lot in the 2400 block of S. 24th. He said the family's two daughters are barrel racers and that the horses would be well taken care of. No one spoke against the exemption during the hearing.

No action taken on EDC issue

The council went behind closed doors to get at update from the city attorney regarding the Chickasha Economic Development Council and its use of taxpayer funds. The panel met for an hour and a half in executive session and made no comment other than to say no action would be taken at this time.

 

Grow Facility Goes Up In Smoke

Fire caused heavy damage to a marijuana grow facility northeast of Chickasha earlier this week. The fire was called in just before 5 o'clock Monday morning at what used to be the pro shop at the former Riverbend Golf Course. The Chickasha fire department was initially called out, then volunteers from Amber, Friend, and Naples were dispatched. Grady County Fire Chief Rodney Gregory says the 5,000 sq. ft. metal building sustained about $20,000 in damage. It was unclear how much of the marijuana was destroyed. He said the fire may have been sparked by an electrical short. Gregory said crews were on the scene for about two hours. Gregory also said crews responded to a grass fire southwest of Pocasset just before noon Monday. Gregory said a burn pile got out of control on CR 2810 west of Highway 81. Pocasset was dispatched and Chickasha was called to assist. Crews were on the scene about an hour. About a half-acre of grassland was scorched.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $70.38 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $75.90.

Natural gas is $2.49 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,943 and silver is $23.31.

 

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Tuesday, June 20th

 

Chix Officials Ask for More Grant Funds for Water Line Replacement

A few months ago, Chickasha officials announced an effort to improve part of the city's water distribution system. Water lines and fire hydrants in the neighborhood east of 4th and Minnesota need to be replaced. The city has already been approved for a Community Development Block of Grant to help pay for the project. However, the lowest of three bids received was more than $200,000 higher than engineers estimated. Officials are asking the State Department of Commerce for additional funds. While the original construction budget was estimated at $331,000 - the lowest of three bids received was more than $537,000. In a letter from Mayor Chris Mosley to the commerce department dated June 2nd, he's asking for an additional $180,000 and said the city would provide an additional $25,000. Mosley said they could consider slimming down the project, but that it is not a good alternative as existing waterlines are subject to frequent breakages and are undersized. Mosley is expected give an update on the request for additional funds during tonight's city council meeting.

Another public hearing set for request to have horses and goats in the city limits

The council will also hold a second public hearing regarding a special zoning exemption to allow horses and goats in the city limits. The request from Davina and Roosevelt May would allow the animals on seven acres of property in the 2400 block of South 24th. Last month the council unanimously voted against the request after some neighbors protested. The proposal went back to the city's planning commission which recommended the exemption be approved, as it did the first time it was considered.

'Twisters' crew asks for more street closings

The film crew building sets for the filming of the Twister sequel is asking the city for additional street closures next month. Dirt Road Films is requesting that 17th Street between Iowa and Dakota Avenues, and Minnesota Avenue between 16th and 18th Streets be closed from July 1st through July 14th. Upwards of 500 people have been working in the area over the last few weeks.

Resolution to pass new fiscal year budget to be discussed

The council will also consider a resolution to approve the city budget for the upcoming fiscal year, which will start July 1st. The city council meets at 6:30 tonight at city hall.

 

Businessman, Civic Leader Ron Saxon Dies

Longtime homebuilder and pilot Ron Saxon has died. Saxon was a crop duster who would eventually be involved with the Civil Air Patrol. He opened a real estate office and began building homes in the early 1970s. He served on the Chickasha City Council and the Chamber of Commerce. Saxon was 80 when he passed away last Saturday. Survivors include his wife, Dayliene; and their two sons and their families. A graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, June 22nd at Fairlawn Cemetery. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

 

Chix Group Wins State Tourism Awards

Chickasha's Economic Development Council (EDC) picked up some top honors at the State Department of Tourism's Redbud Awards.  The EDC won the Merit Award for Outstanding New Attraction for the permanent Leg Lamp in downtown Chickasha. The panel also won for Outstanding Media Coverage for the Nov. 5^th grand opening celebration of the leg lamp. News of the leg lamp spread across the country on radio and TV stations and newspapers. The Redbud Awards recognize state tourism attractions, and destination market organizations for their efforts to serve and promote the state's tourism industry.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $71.78 per barrel.

London based Brent crude is $76.61.

Natural gas is $2.63 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,964 and silver is $24.30.

 

Obituaries

Doris Miller

A graveside service for Doris Miller, 82, of Chickasha will be held at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 21st at Fairlawn Cemetery. She was a lab tech for American Optical.  Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral home.

Connie Painter

A private memorial service will be held at a later date for Connie Painter, 60, of Chickasha. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

 

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Monday, June 19th

 

Chix Gets One Bid to Repair Storm-Damaged Intersection

Chickasha city officials are recommending that a Clinton company be awarded a contract to repair the intersection of 14th and Missouri which nearly collapsed following heavy rains earlier this spring. The city's engineering firm is recommending a bid from Mayfield Contracting. It's a nearly $288,000 bid and was the only one that was received. The city council declared an emergency to repair the intersection which has been closed since the damage occurred. Officials said it was apparently due to the failure of the storm sewer system underneath the intersection. Public Works Director John Crosby said parts of the drain underneath both 14th Street and Missouri Avenue will likely have to be replaced. The proposal is on the agenda for tomorrow night's city council meeting.

 

Verden School Superintendent Discusses Upcoming School Year

Summer vacation for most schools is reaching its halfway point. In Verden, Superintendent Mickey Edwards says teachers will report on Monday, August 7th with the first day of classes on Thursday, August 10th. Edwards says they will have 165 days of instruction. For the first semester, classes will be held Monday through Friday. After the first of the year, they'll have school just four days a week.

 

              

 

 

Edwards is hoping construction on the new security vestibule at the high school could begin this fall. Voters approved a $675,000 bond issue for the project which Edwards says could begin in October with a completion date perhaps by the end of the school year.

 

No Tuition, Fee Increases at USAO for Coming Year

USAO students won't be facing tuition or fee increases for the upcoming school year. University regents unanimously voted to keep costs at their current levels. On average, an Oklahoma resident taking 15 credit hours at the university can expect to pay about $4,100 per semester or about $8,200 for the year. President John Feaver said it is the university's duty to ensure that a quality college education remains accessible and affordable for all. First-time students who will be attending full time have the option to  pay slightly higher costs and lock in that rate for four years.  Students taking 15 credit hours per semester would pay about $4,700 for each term.

 

Maloney, Richie Take Top Honors at Juneteenth Barbecue Cook-off

We have some follow-up to this past weekend's Juneteenth Celebration at Chickasha's Washita Valley Park. The winners of the barbecue cook-off competition were Phyllis Maloney for her ribs and Terry Richie for his chicken. Both received a $100 cash prize and a medal. The top three placers in the rib division were Maloney in first; Terry Richie in second and Carl Johnson in third. In the chicken division it was Richie in first; Phyllis Maloney in second and Edith Givens in third.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $71.78 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $76.61.

Natural gas is $2.63 per million BTUs.

Gold $1,962 and silver is $24.29.

 

Obituaries

Becky Stephenson

Funeral service for Becky Stephenson, 58, or of Rush Springs was held at 10:30 this morning at the Southern Oaks Church of Christ. She was the postmaster at Alex for many years. Arrangements were with McRay Funeral Home.

Louis Bryant

Funeral service for Louis Bryant, 83, of Oklahoma City will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, June 24th, at the First Baptist Church in Snyder. Arrangements are with Brown-Thomas Funeral Home.

Saturday, June 17th

 

Former Jailer Sentenced for Inmate Assault

Former Grady County jail employee Johnnie Drewery will himself serve some time behind bars. Drewery was recently sentenced after pleading guilty to a federal charge of civil rights violations. The incident occurred in July of 2020 when Drewery and other jailers were placing an inmate in a holding cell when the inmate spit on Drewery. The Southwest Ledger cited court documents indicating that Drewery screamed for the cell door to be re-opened and that he rushed in and repeatedly punched and kneed the inmate. The inmate suffered a fractured rib. Drewery pleaded guilty to the federal charge in January of 2022. A federal judge recently sentenced Drewery to 30 days in jail on weekends, perform 104 hours of community service, and four years’ probation.

 

SCOOP Well Completions

Completion reports have been filed on a few more oil and gas wells in the SCOOP region. CPRP Services of Oklahoma City show nearly 1,500 barrels of oil and nearly 1,600 Mcf of natural gas per day being produced from two wells on a single pad in McClain County south of Dibble. The Guinness wells are in the Woodford formation in Section 29 of Township 6 North Range 4 West and were drilled to a depth of nearly 12,000 feet. CPRP also reported production of 2,300 barrels of oil and more than 3,000 Mcf of natural gas per day for two Dogfish Fed wells in Section 6 of Township 5 North Range 4 West, also in the Woodford formation. Those wells were drilled to a depth of more than 11,000 feet.

 

Chickasha, Nation Commemorate Juneteenth

Chickasha and communities across the country are celebrating Juneteenth this weekend. Juneteenth, which is officially called Juneteenth National Independence Day, marks the day that the last of enslaved African-Americans received word of their emancipation following the Civil War. While President Abraham Lincoln freed slaves in in Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, it wasn't until June 19th, 1865 that Major General Gordon Granger notified those still enslaved in Texas that they were free. Chickasha Juneteenth activities include a parade with opening ceremonies at Washita Valley Park at 11 o'clock. Mayor Chris Mosley will read a proclamation and guest speaker is Dr. Tonnia Anderson with the Ada Sipuel-Fisher Center for Social Justice and Racial Healing at USAO. Activities at start at noon with live music, lots of activities for the kids, free food, and vendors will be on hand.

 

Talk Show Topics

Jim Cowan with the Chickasha Economic Development Council and the Chamber of Commerce is our guest on the KOOL Konversation. Verden School Superintendent Mickey Edwards is our guest on Real Estate Today. Find podcasts of both programs under the Community tab on this website.

 

Obituary

Becky Stephenson

Funeral service for Becky Stephenson, 58, of Rush Springs will be held at 10:30 a.m.  Monday, June 19th at the Southern Oaks Church of Christ in Chickasha. She was the postmaster at Alex for many years. Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home.

 

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Friday, June 16th

 

Consumer Spending on the Rise

Cash registers at Grady County retail outlets have ringing a lot more over the last couple of months. Consumer spending for the region in March was estimated at $92.5 million - and that's the third straight monthly increase. The number is about 3.1 percent higher than February but it was off a fraction from March of 2022 by less than 1 percent. The $92.5 million figure is the largest since September of last year. We estimate consumer spending when we see the sales tax revenue for the county. The April amount was about $694,000 which represents the taxable goods and services purchased in February. Here is a breakdown of where the sales tax money goes. The Grady County Fairgrounds received $231,000; Grady Memorial Hospital received $205,000; the 20 county fire districts shared $116,000 and each one collected $5,800; the seven senior nutrition centers also shared $116,000 and each picked up more than $16,000; Tuttle EMS collected $21,000 and Rush Springs EMS received $5,300.

Chickasha Consumer Spending 

The most recent numbers for the city of Chickasha show consumer spending from March which was estimated to be $32 million. That number is based on city sales revenues in May which were just over than $1.2 million.

 

Lawton, Duncan Evaluating Storm Damage

Officials in Lawton and Duncan are tallying up damage from strong storms which moved through those areas last night. Large hail and 70 mph winds were reported in Lawton and Public Service Company of Oklahoma reported as many as 17,000 customers without power in those regions. PSO officials also said the utility sustained substantial damage to its power grid including transmission structures, broken poles, cross arms, and downed wires.

 

Onward Chickasha Program Rescheduled 

The Chickasha area managed to avoid much of the severe weather which pummeled parts of central and southwest Oklahoma last night. But the threat of bad weather forced officials to postpone the open house for the Onward Chickasha long-range planning meeting. Officials have re-scheduled the program for Thursday, June 29^th between 5:30 and 7:30 that evening at Chickasha City Hall.

 

Chix Public Pool Opens Today

After some delays the public swimming pool at Chickasha's Shannon Springs Park will be opening today. The pool will be open from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. today and tomorrow and will be closed Sundays (except for parties). The regular hours for the pool are Monday through Friday 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The pool is operated by the YMCA. Corbin Lee with the Y says they have a staff of 12 including the lifeguards who undergo 36 hours of training.

 

           

 

YMCA members get to swim free all summer long. Admission for non-YMCA members is $5 per person. The pool does offer private parties seven days a week. Swimming lessons for children are available and there are several two-week sessions throughout the summer with the first session starting Monday. Reach out to the Y for information about the parties and swimming lessons.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $70.62 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $75.67,

Natural gas is $2.53 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,976 and silver is $24.09.

 

Obituaries

Ruby Howard

No services are scheduled for Ruby Howard, 74, of Chickasha. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.

 

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Thursday, June 15th

 

'Onward, Chickasha' Open House Tonight

Chickasha residents can meet with city leaders and the engineering firm putting together a plan to guide the city into the middle part of the 21st century tonight. There's an open house at city hall which will be another opportunity for residents to submit ideas. Laura Bergey is with the Guernsey Engineering firm which is leading the project-

 

              

 

There will be informational displays and opportunities to discuss the work done so far in the come-and-go event. The open house will be in the lobby of city hall from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. tonight.

 

Chix City Council to Hold Public Hearing on Proposed Budget

Also tonight, the Chickasha City Council will hold a public hearing on the proposed city budgets for the upcoming fiscal year which begins in just a couple of weeks. The public hearing will be part of a special city council meeting which will get underway at 6:30 tonight in the city council chambers at city hall.

 

Chickasha Hosts Mayors Council Conference

Mayors from communities across the state are meeting in Chickasha today and tomorrow. The Mayors Council of Oklahoma is holding its annual conference at USAO. Amber Mayor Craig Parham is the current president of the council and says the conference has been instrumental in helping him make his community better.

 

              

 

Mike Fina is the executive director of the group-

 

              

 

Holt is the mayor of Oklahoma City and Bynum the mayor of Tulsa.

 

Cyril Honors Memory of Athena Brownfield

The community of Cyril has memorialized Athene Brownfield, the four-year old reported missing in January and her body found at a farm several miles from her home. A granite bench with her photo, some butterflies, and an inscription was unveiled at the Cyril Town Plaza. The inscription etched into the bench reads: 'Little Sister' Athena Alexandria Brownfield. There are no footprints too small to leave an imprint on this world. Sweet little Athena, taken from us too soon, your smile was contagious. Your laugh could fill a room. When God was searching for the most beautiful angel, He found you. Love conquers all, our shy butterfly, now resting in the arms of Jesus, dancing in the sky.' Authorities arrested her caretakers in connection with Athena’s death. Ivon Adams is charged with murder and child neglect. Alysia Adams is charged with two counts of child neglect. Preliminary hearings are scheduled in October.

 

Anadarko Seeks Vendors for 'Honor America' Celebration

With the 4th of July quickly approaching there are a lot of communities marking the holiday with Independence Day events. In Anadarko, the Anadarko Chamber of Commerce will once again host its Honor America Celebration. It will be Friday evening, June 30th at Randlett Park. There will be family-friendly fun and games, food trucks and vendors, and fireworks at dusk. Organizers are looking for vendors and food trucks to take part. Contact Alicia White with the chamber by June 23^rd for the details. Information is available on the Anadarko chamber's Facebook page.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $68.27 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $73.20.

Natural gas is $2.34 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,946 and silver is $23.49.

 

Obituaries

Steven Verhines

Obituaries today include 66-year old Steven Verhines of Chickasha. He was a teacher at Friend School. A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 21st at Friend School Auditorium. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Dementia Society of America or Chisholm Trail Hospice.

 

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Wednesday, June 14th

 

Doctors Save Life of Child who OD'd; Two Suspects in Custody

A 9-month old baby who officials say overdosed on opioids is expected to be okay after doctors gave the child Noxalone. And two people are in jail charged with child neglect for allegedly allowing the overdose to occur. Chickasha police were dispatched to the emergency room at Grady Memorial Hospital Sunday afternoon. The child was brought in because he was having difficulty breathing and turning blue. A probable-cause affidavit indicates that hospital staff believed the child was experiencing an opioid overdose and gave the child Noxalone, or Narcan, which saved the child's life. Doctors found a piece of burnt foil inside the child's mouth, which is alleged to have been used by someone who ingested drugs. Officers believed that a two-year old in the home may have placed the foil in the baby's mouth. Authorities arrested the child's mother, 21-year old Lauren Elizabeth Lane, and her brother, 20-year old Jason Cordova Lane after finding drugs in their home. Both have been formally charged with felony child neglect and misdemeanor drug charges with bond set at $100,000 each.

 

Suspect Arrested in Connection with Gun Theft

Chickasha police made quick work of a recent burglary that took place at a veteran-owned company. Saturday, officers were dispatched to the Two Vets Clothing Store in the 1400 block of South 4th Street to investigate a report of a firearm being stolen. And one of the store's owners, Army reserve veteran Zach Grayson, was holding the suspect until police arrived. A probable cause affidavit indicates that video surveillance showed the suspect putting a pistol in his pocket and leaving the store. The suspect returned a few minutes later and attempted to take another pistol and that's when Grayson, Chickasha's vice mayor, stopped the man and called police. Authorities say the suspect was living in a home a few blocks away so officials obtained a search warrant and found the first pistol that was stolen. Authorities arrested 31-year old Theodes Shells on a complaint of grand larceny. Authorities later found out that Shells was listed as sex offender out of Lubbock, Texas after being convicted of aggravated assault on a child in 2012. Authorities say there is no record of Shells completing any type of sex offender registration as required by law. Shells is in the Grady County Jail on a $150,000 bond and is facing felony charges of grand larceny, being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, and failure to register as a sex offender.

 

Blanchard Voters Approve New Hotel-Motel Tax

Voters in Blanchard overwhelmingly approved a new hotel-motel tax in yesterday’s special election. The measure passed with more than 70 percent of the vote. Just over 300 ballots were cast with the unofficial vote being 217 to 92. The 5 percent tax will be placed in a special tourism fund and used to encourage, promote, and foster tourism.

Minco Proposal Fails by Single Vote

In Minco, however, a similar 5 percent hotel-motel tax failed by one vote. The measure needed a simple majority to pass but the unofficial vote was tied at 42-42.

 

Nation Celebrates Flag Day

Today is Flag Day - set aside to commemorate the adoption of the Stars and Stripes as the official flag of the United States. The flag was adopted by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1777 while the Revolutionary War was still in progress. KenLynn Chaney with the Grady County Rock Island 4H Club has a few guidelines to follow when flying the flag.

              

       

 

There are a couple of locations where tattered flags can be taken so they can be properly retired. They are the Grady County Veterans Memorial at Shannon Springs Park and the boy scout headquarters at 18th and Iowa Avenue. The boy scouts will occasionally have flag retirement ceremonies.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $69.42 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $74.29.

Natural gas is $2.34 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,963 and silver is $23.96.

 

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Tuesday, June 13th

 

USAO Regents Name New President

USAO will begin a new era this summer. The board of regents has announced that Dr. Kayla Hale has been named the university's next president. Hale will be the 13th president for the University and will take the helm from retiring president John Feaver in August. Hale comes from the University of Tulsa, where she has worked for 25 years and most recently served as vice president of university advancement and alumni engagement. She has 35 years’ experience in higher education advancement. Hale says among her initial goals is student recruitment.

 

              

 

Hale is a USAO alum and attended in the early 1980s. She said Feaver was her history professor. She says she's worked a lot with Feaver in recent years at the state level to enhance the efforts of Oklahoma's colleges and universities. She will be USAO's first female president. Feaver is retiring after being with the university for more than 40 years which includes more than 20 years as president.

 

Minco, Blanchard Voters to Decide Hotel-Motel Tax Issues

Voters in Minco and Blanchard head to the polls today for special elections. Those casting ballots will decide if the communities should implement hotel-motel taxes. Both communities are seeking a 5 percent hotel-motel tax to be charged to individuals who rent hotel or motel rooms. Polls are open until 7 o'clock tonight.

 

Public Hearing Set for Special Zoning

to Allow Horses, Goats in Chix City Limits

A request for a special zoning exemption to allow horses and goats in the Chickasha city limits will again be addressed by the city’s planning commission this afternoon. A public hearing will be held on the matter regarding property in the 2400 block of South 24th Street. The Chickasha City Council recently denied a request for the exemption which is being sought by Davina and Roosevelt May. The planning commission will also hold a public hearing to consider a request for an exemption to the city's facade requirements on an oversized building. That request is for applicant Jim Camp on Mockingbird Lane.

 

ODOT Schedules Transporation Needs Surveys

Improving the transportation needs of those with disabilities, senior citizens, and low-income families is a goal of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT). Officials will have a series of regional meetings over the next couple of weeks to get public input on what officials call the 2023 Coordinated Transportation Plan. Oklahomans can take part in an on-line survey as well as a series of virtual meetings. The central region virtual meeting will be on Thursday, June 22nd with the southwest region virtual meeting to be held on Wednesday, June 28th. The on-line survey can be found at surveymonkey.com

Additional information is available on-line at oklahoma.gov/odot

 

Chix Tattoo Parlor Earns National Awards

A Chickasha business picked up a number of awards for its work. Garrett Hall of Downtown Tattoo received the awards at the National Tattoo Arts Festival in Oklahoma City this past weekend. Awards included best large black and gray tattoo; best small black and gray tattoo; best large color; and best cover up. Downtown Tattoo is at 421 Chickasha Avenue.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $67.12 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $71.84.

Natural gas is $2.27 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,976 and silver is $24.25.

 

Obituary

Jo Ann Polly

A gathering of friends of Jo Ann Polly, 86, will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, June 16^th at the Cowboy Church in Apache. She worked for the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission offices in Chickasha and Anadarko. Memorial contributions may be made to breast cancer research. Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home.

 

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Monday, June 12th

 

Onward Chickasha Update Set Thursday

The most recent work of an engineering firm which is generating a 30-year plan for the City of Chickasha will be on display this week. Officials with the Guernsey Engineering firm of Oklahoma City will present a draft of a community vision statement and have an update of an on-going survey which is gathering ideas for the city's long-range plans. Laura Bergey is one of the Guernsey officials leading the project.

 

              

 

A come-and-go open house will be held Thursday evening in the lobby of Chickasha City Hall from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

 

State Mayors' Conference in Chickasha This Week

Mayors from communities across the state will be meeting in Chickasha this week. The Oklahoma Municipal League will hold its annual Mayor's Conference. Some officials will be arriving as early as tomorrow as board meetings for the Mayors Council of Oklahoma and the Municipal League will be held at Canadian Valley Technology Center. By the way, the president of the Mayors Council is Mayor Craig Parham of Amber. In his welcoming address on the municipal league's website, Chickasha Mayor Chris Mosley says the city is a great example of how a future-focused community can collaborate to inspire change. He says the city has made changes over the last couple of years to its internal processes and have partnered with the business community for positive impacts on the city.

 

Chix School Board to Discuss 2023-24 Budget

A preliminary budget for next school year is among the issues to be reviewed by the Chickasha school board tonight. Officials say the district has received a record level of gross production revenue this year although officials say that will impact state-aid chargeables. Officials also say new state laws regarding teacher pay raises will mean that the district will have to shell out an additional $1 million for teacher salaries. The state will provide additional funds for those raises but it's not clear how much. The additional funding does not include raises for support employees. The school board meets at 6 o'clock tonight at the school administration building.

 

Teens Injured in Caddo County Crash

Several teenagers avoided serious injury when the car they were riding in ran through a T-intersection and crashed through a fence in Caddo County. The accident happened in Eakly just before 3 o'clock Sunday morning. One of the six teenagers crammed into a 2017 Dodge Challenger was air-lifted to an Oklahoma City Hospital with leg injuries. She was admitted in good condition. Three of the teens, including the 16-year old driver, were taken by private vehicle to an Oklahoma City hospital and all were treated and released.  The teens were all 16-18 years old and were from Carnegie, Mt. View, Tuttle, and Mustang. The highway patrol reported the driver's condition was apparently normal and cited inattention inside the vehicle as the cause of the accident.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $70.17 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $74.79.

Natural gas is $2.25 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,980 and silver is $24.38.

 

Obituaries

Mary Belle Carr

Funeral service for Mary Belle Carr, 89, of Alex was held at 2:00 p.m. this afternoon at the Alex Church of Christ. Arrangements were with Sevier Funeral Home.

Karen Cox

A private graveside service was held for Karen Cox, 76, of Tuttle. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home of Tuttle.

 

Saturday, June 10th

 

Proposed PSO Rate Hike Still Pending

A proposed $155 million rate hike for Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) is still under consideration. Earlier this spring, the Oklahoma Corporation Commission sent a proposed agreement regarding the rate hike to an administrative law judge who has yet to make a decision. The website OK Energy Today reports that this week the commission considered an option which would have allowed the panel to rule on the matter without the judge's ruling. But officials decided they did want to hear from the judge who spent three days in a hearing with PSO and various groups that both supported and opposed the increase. Commission Chairman Todd Hiett said he's opposed to the settlement agreed to by PSO, the commission's public utilities division, Attorney General Gentner Drummond, and AARP. The commission had scheduled a hearing on the matter next month but now it may be mid-August before that happens and a ruling may not be made until September at the earliest.

 

Chickasha Dog Park Gets Formal Ribbon Cutting

A formal ribbon cutting and grand opening for the City of Chickasha's dog park was held yesterday. The Susan Dale Badgett Memorial Paws Park was formally christened as members of the Badgett family, city leaders, and others joined the celebration. Gail Ulrich of Gordonville, Texas is one of Susan's sisters. She said after Susan died of liver cancer in 2019 they wanted to do something special for her and that a dog park was the perfect choice.

 

              

 

The park has been open for about a year. It includes of number of benches which have the names of several of her golden retrievers etched in them. The Badgett family donated $100,000 to the city to create the dog park which is in the middle of town at Centennial Park. There are separate sections for large and small dogs and the family plans to add additional agility equipment in the future.

 

SCOOP Well Completion Report Filed

An Oklahoma energy company filed a completion report on a well in the South Central Oklahoma Oil Province (SCOOP) region. Continental Resources filed the paperwork on a well in southern Garvin County south of Elmore City bringing in about 255 barrels of oil and nearly 400 Mcf of natural gas per day. It’s the Highlands Well in section 13 of Township 1 North and Range 2 West in the Woodford formation. The spud date was October of 2022 and it was drilled to a true vertical depth of nearly 13,000 feet.

 

Talk Show Topics

Dr. Tonnia Anderson with the Ada Sipuel-Fisher Center for Social Justice and Racial Healing at USAO will talk about the upcoming commemoration of Juneteenth. State Rep Dick Lowe (R-Amber) and State Sen. Lonnie Paxton (R-Tuttle) are on Real Estate Today.  Find podcasts of both programs under the Community tab on this website.

 

Obituaries

Mary Belle Carr

Funeral service for Mary Belle Carr, 89, of Alex will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, June 12th at the Main Street Church of Christ in Alex. She and her husband L.B. owned and operated a dairy farm and ranch. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.

Karen Cox

A private graveside service for Karen Cox, 76, of Tuttle will be held at a later date. She worked at Tinker Air Force Base for many years. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home of Tuttle.

 

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Friday, June 9th

 

Death of Convenience Store Clerk Under Investigation

Authorities are looking into the death of convenience store clerk who died on the job early Thursday. Chickasha police were summoned to the Love's Country Store on Choctaw Avenue just after 7 o'clock yesterday morning. The day crew coming on shift called to report their co-worker was unresponsive in the bathroom. In a press release, authorities say they discovered the body of 32-year old Jessica Poteet. Video surveillance shows Poteet putting a sign on the front door about 4:00 a.m. indicating that she was going to clean the bathroom. The video shows Poteet going into the bathroom alone. Authorities have not indicated how Poteet died. The police department, the District Attorney’s Task Force, and the state medical examiner's office are all part of the ongoing investigation.

 

Suspected Drug Dealer Arrested

At about the same time authorities were investigating Poteet's death the Grady County Sheriff's Office and DEA agents arrested a suspected drug dealer across the street. Sheriff Gary Boggess said agents set up the sting operation in the parking lot of Null's Used Tires. No additional details were provided.

 

New Police Chief Appointed in Minco

Officials in Minco have appointed a new police chief. The town council named Frederick Johnson as the new chief during a special meeting last night. Johnson was named the town's top cop following the resignation of previous chief Josh Fletcher earlier in the week. Fletcher stepped down after the council slashed the police department's budget by half.  Several other officers also resigned.

 

Governor Signs School Safety Bills

Gov. Kevin Stitt signed a number of bills into law this week including several which are designed to improve security in public schools. One measure requires school districts undergo a risk assessment and another will have them hire resource officers. State Representative Dick Lowe (R-Amber) helped to author the legislation. All public schools would have to undergo an initial risk and vulnerability assessment from the Oklahoma School Security Institute or a national qualified assessor by July of 2026. Districts will be required to have the assessments every five years. Also, a three-year pilot program for school safety provides districts with more than $95,000 a year for each of those years to hire resource officers or make necessary security upgrades. The bills go into effect next month.

 

Shannon Springs Park Swimming Pool Opening Soon

City officials also say they are almost ready to open the public swimming pool at Shannon Springs Park. The pool has been undergoing some repairs over the last couple of months and officials began filling the pool yesterday. We’ll pass along information about the pool opening and summer hours when that information is provided. The pool is managed by the YMCA.

 

Downtown Chickasha Art Walk Tonight

Downtown Chickasha will be active tonight as the monthly downtown art walk will take place. A number of downtown businesses and venues will be open after hours hosting local artists. Among them will be a go-kart re-furbisher who will be at the leg lamp. The art walk extends from the railroad depot and the leg lamp along Chickasha Avenue to 6th Street and a number of stores and venues on side streets will also be open. There will be live music at the Stage behind Brandi's and the Flower Shop Winery and Pizzeria and at the Shakespeare Wine Company. The art walk runs from 5 to 8 o'clock tonight. The art walk is held the second Friday of each month.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $71.29 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $75.96.

Natural gas is $2.35 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,977 and silver is $24.45.

 

Obituary

Junior Crumm

A private graveside service for Junior Crumm, 93, of Chickasha will be held by the family at a later date. He was a long haul truck driver. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

 

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Thursday, June 8th

 

Woman Arrested for Alleged Child Neglect, Drug Complaints

A Chickasha woman is in custody for alleged child neglect and living in a home where drugs are used and sold. Authorities arrested 66-year old Devenua Burgess late Monday. A probable cause affidavit from the Grady County Sheriff's Office indicates that officers were called to the Burgess home to do a welfare check on an infant and to notify Burgess that she had an outstanding warrant dating back to 1996. It’s alleged that a five-month old infant had been left alone on several occasions and that the child had fallen off a bed. It was also alleged that individuals smoked crack around the child. Authorities said they found crack cocaine in some lip balm tubes. Burgess is facing felony charges of child neglect and maintaining a home for keeping or selling drugs. She remains in the Grady County Jail on a $25,000 bond.

 

Part of Action Movie Sequel to be Filmed in Chix

Many motorists have seen some construction going on in a Chickasha neighborhood and have been curious as to what is being built. We can now officially report that a film production company is working on some sets for the sequel to the 1996 movie ‘Twister’. The construction is going on in the area of 17th and Minnesota Ave. The Chickasha City Council this week approved some street closures for Dirt Road Films, LLC associated with the movie ‘Twisters’. Officials say Chickasha is able to host the project since the Oklahoma Department of Commerce has named Chickasha a film-friendly city.  Crews told the city’s Community Development Department there will be two or three days of filming sometime between June 19th and June 26th. The original film starred Helen Hunt and the late Bill Paxton. Part of that movie was filmed in Wakita, Okla. The website Collider reports that there's no official word if Hunt will appear in the sequel. The website Imdb lists the stars of the sequel as Katy O'Brian, Kiernan Shipka, and Daisy Edward-Jones. The director is Lee Isaac Lang and writers are Michael Crichton and Mark Smith. The projected release date is the spring of 2024.

 

Leadership Chickasha Program Accepting Applications

A popular program to develop future community leaders is making plans for its next class. The Chickasha Chamber of Commerce is preparing for its upcoming Leadership Chickasha series. Students meet once a month from September through March to learn the ins and outs of city and county governments, the Chickasha school district, Canadian Valley Technology Center, and USAO, and develop leadership skills. The classes are all day on Thursdays of each month. The 2023-24 class will be limited to 25 members. For information contact the Chickasha Chamber of Commerce.

 

State Job Search Office Opens in Anadarko

Anadarko now has a local office for job seekers. The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission (OESC) has opened several community outreach offices in communities that do not have workforce offices and Anadarko is among them. Officials are at the Anadarko Public Library every Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. OESC officials say it should be easier for individuals and companies to do business with the agency as people don't always have the means to drive out of town for help. For Anadarko area residents the nearest OESC office is about 20 miles away in Chickasha.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $72.53 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $76.95.

Natural gas is $2.33 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,961 and silver is $23.78.

 

Obituaries

Judy Kauley

Funeral service for Judy Kauley, 76, of Chickasha will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, June 9th at the First Baptist Church. Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home.

Linda Thomas

Funeral service for Linda Thomas, 74, formerly of Chickasha will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, June 13^th at the Northeast Missionary Baptist Church in Oklahoma City. Arrangements are with Brown-Thomas Funeral Home.

 

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Wednesday, June 7th

 

Chix Mayor Discusses Joint Street Upgrade Pact with County

The Chickasha City Council this week approved an agreement with Grady County officials to assist with some road and street upgrades. Mayor Chris Mosley said the city and the county previously joined efforts to make improvements on Pikes Peak Road from 4th Street to 16th Street. Mosley said the county has resources that the city doesn't.

 

              

 

The areas targeted for repairs are 29th Street north of U.S. Highway 62 and north of the railroad tracks; Cottonwood Street from 4th Street east to the railroad tracks; and 4th Street north of the Grady County Courthouse from the first set of railroad tracks and north to the stop sign.

 

Demand for Foster Homes Soars

The number of children in foster care in Oklahoma is alarming. There are more than 6,500 children in foster care in Oklahoma and less than 2,500 foster homes to care for them. In Grady County, there are nearly 120 children in foster care and only 22 foster homes available. Ginna Waddell with the OK Fosters program through the Department of Human Services is seeking families to assist kids in foster care, so they can stay within their local community.

 

              

 

For information about becoming a foster family, visit the website ok fosters.org

 

Grand Opening Set for Badgett Dog Park

The City of Chickasha will have an official grand opening for the city's dog park later this week. The Susan Dale Badgett Memorial Paws Park opened last summer. The Badgett family contributed $100,000 to build the facility which has separate sections for large and small dogs. Residents are encouraged to bring their dogs to the park for the event. There will be bags full of treats for the dogs and dog owners can register to win a dog grooming gift certificate. There will be a couple of food trucks for humans, and appropriately one of them is Dogg-n-It. Uptown Scoops will also be there. The grand opening will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 11 a.m.  There ceremony will be held at the corner of 7^th and Idaho Ave.

 

Church to Celebrate 130th Anniversary

A Chickasha house of worship is celebrating its 130th anniversary. St. Luke's Episcopal Church will have an open house this Saturday with a come-and-go reception from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. It's one of the city's oldest churches - opening in 1893 just a year after Chickasha was founded. The first Baptism took place in April of that year. The church has the distinction of being the oldest church building in the city, having been in continuous service since it was built in 1900.  It's the second oldest Episcopal Church building in Oklahoma. One of the highlights of the day will be the opening of a time capsule that was buried nearly 40 years ago in 1986. The church is located at 6th and Kansas Avenue.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $71.74 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $76.29.

Natural gas is $2.26 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,960 and silver is $23.70.

 

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Tuesday, June 6th

 

G.G. Music Named New Chickasha Police Chief

Chickasha officials kept things in-house when hiring the city's new police chief. G.G. Music who has served as interim police chief over the last five months had the interim tag removed from his title during last night's city council meeting. City Attorney Amanda Mullins gave Music his oath of office-

 

              

 

Music has been with the department for 23 years.

Council approves Henry Argo Resolution

Also during the meeting, the council unanimously approved a resolution commemorating the life of 19-year old Henry Argo, a black man who was killed by a white mob in 1930. The resolution was issued to acknowledge the historical significance of the event as an unjust instance of mob violence against Black people in American history and to condemn racial discrimination. It is said that the attack was the last public lynching in Oklahoma.

Police Union Contracts OK'd

The council also approved contracts with the Fraternal Order of Police Local 129 following an 18-minute closed door meeting. The contracts for the current and the next fiscal year received unanimous approval.

Mineral Rights Leased on Numerous City-owned Sites

The council also held auctions for a number of oil and gas leases at nearly 40 sites within the city limits. Among the largest leases approved was one for the mineral rights on about 300 acres of city-owned land around Lake Chickasha. The only bid submitted was for $500 an acre and a 3/16th royalty for three years from a firm called ToddCo. That will give the city an upfront payment of $150,000.

Day Care Center, Re-zoning Requests Approved

The panel also approved a use-on-review for a day care at 1128 S. 5^th Street for Kimberly and Terry Cole. The group also approved a re-zoning request for Mike McGill and OK Carpet at 15^th and Missouri to re-zone a small piece of property from residential to commercial use to expand his store.

 

Minco Police Chief and Several Officers Resign

Turmoil in Minco as the police chief and several police officers walk off the job. The Minco-Union City Times posted the news on its Facebook page. The paper indicates that Police Chief Joshua Fletcher resigned during last night's city council meeting. In his resignation letter Fletcher said the city has become a toxic and hostile place to work and that he is resigning due to massive budget cuts to the department. He said the cuts will cause the department to be overworked, under-trained, and poorly equipped and that he cannot approve or be complicit in the poor decisions being made by the Minco City Council. The resignations leave just one police officer on duty. Grady County Sheriff Gary Boggess told our partners at KWTV-News 9 that deputies will respond to calls in Minco if there is a life-threatening situation. In addition to the officers leaving, the newspaper also reported that the city council recently fired its city attorney and that Mayor Keith McMullen resigned after serving in that capacity for the last eight years.

 

Hiring Events Scheduled

A couple of hiring events are to be held in Chickasha this week. The State Department of Corrections will hold interviews for a number of positions open at the Great Plains Correctional Center in Hinton. The openings include corrections officers, nursing staff, food service, and construction and maintenance personnel. That will be held at the Oklahoma Works office downtown at 205 Chickasha Avenue from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. tomorrow.

Friday job fair to give early preference to military veterans

On Friday, a number of companies and even the City of Chickasha will be on hand for a community hiring event and will be giving a preference to military veterans. Loves, Amazon, American Tissue of Oklahoma City, and Express Employment will also be on hand. The event is being hosted by the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission (OESC) and will be held at the Chickasha Library Friday, Nov. 9th from noon to 3:00 p.m. The first hour-and-a-half is set aside for veterans then will be open to the community from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Job seekers are encouraged to dress ready to interview and bring resumes.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $72.15 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $76.71.

Natural gas is $2.24 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,978 and silver is $23.67.

 

Obituary

Bonnie Carter

A private memorial service for Bonnie Carter, 80, of Chickasha will be held by the family at a later date. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

 

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Monday, June 5th

 

City, County to Consider Agreement for City Street Repairs

A joint agreement between the City of Chickasha and Grady County Commissioners to repair several Chickasha streets will be considered by the city council tonight. It calls for repairs on North 29th Street north of the railroad tracks; Cottonwood Street from 4th Street east to the railroad tracks; and North 4th Street from the first set of railroad tracks and north to the stop sign. The agreement is to run through next June.

New police chief expected to be sworn in

A new police chief for the City of Chickasha is expected to be sworn in during tonight's city council meeting. There's no word on who the new chief is. G.G. Music has been serving as interim chief for the last five months. The council approved a separation agreement with previous Chief Kathryn 'Dee' Rowell this past January. Rowell was the city's first female police chief, coming to Chickasha after several years with the Ft. Worth, Texas police department. She spent nearly four years at the post.

Resolution to commemorate life of lynching victim to be considered

The panel is also to consider a resolution to commemorate the memory of a man who died in what is believed to be the last public lynching in Oklahoma. The resolution would commemorate the memory of Henry Argo and condemn racial discrimination. Argo, a Black man, was just 19 years old when was shot and stabbed to death by a white mob in May of 1930. The resolution is to honor the life of Argo who was a victim of racism; acknowledge the historical significance of the event as an unjust instance of mob violence against Black people in American History; and condemn those who participated in or who aided and abetted the unlawful violence. It would also encourage education about Argo's legacy, including the horrors of the violence itself and the history of racism that fueled the violence. The city council meets tonight at 6:30 p.m.

 

Train Derailment Investigation Underway

Authorities are investigating a train derailment that happened in Marlow yesterday. About a dozen cars left the tracks near Highway 29 and Railroad Street near several homes...but none were damaged. Grain and flour spilled out of several cars and blocked a number of intersections. Fortunately no one was hurt. Union Pacific crews were sent to assess damage and look into what happened.  Marlow Police Chief Jason Miller tells our partners at KWTV News 9 that railroad officials sent 10 semis full of large equipment to clean up the mess.

 

Agencies Working to Help Inmates Find Jobs Upon Release

A couple of state agencies are working together to help those convicted of crimes to find jobs after they leave prison. The state Department of Corrections and the Central Oklahoma Workforce Innovation board recently hosted a Fair Chance Hiring Event. Corrections officials took a number of currently incarcerated men and women who are nearing their release dates to the job fair.  Employers from dozens of industries had one-on-one discussions with candidates, reviewed resumes, and conducted interviews. Inmate Troy Henning said it was a major boost. He said not a lot of people will give you a second chance. He said it gives them hope, a fighting chance, and an opportunity to return to society and live a real life.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $71.74 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $76.13.

Natural gas is $2.17 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,960 and silver is $23.56.

 

Obituaries

Barbara Morris

Funeral service for Barbara Morris of Ninnekah will be at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, June 6th at Bible Baptist Church. She and her husband Junior owned and operated a dairy farm which is still in the family. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.

Maria Del Rosario Alvarez de Gonzales

Funeral service for 70-year old Maria Del Rosario Alvarez de Gonzales of Anadarko is pending with Brown-Thomas Funeral Home.

Saturday, June 3rd

 

State Budget Approved Without Governor's Signature

The State of Oklahoma's $13 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year will become law without the signature of Gov. Kevin Stitt. The governor has 10 days in which to sign off on bills approved by both the house and senate but that didn't happen. In a prepared statement, the governor said lawmakers relied on one-time revenue to support recurring costs that exceed recurring income by about $220 million. They also used about $2 billion of the state's rainy day fund - reducing the state's savings account to $4.2 billion. The governor said those moves were neither sustainable nor fiscally-wise. He said because of objections to the unique process by which the bill made its way to his desk that it will become law without his signature.

 

Wings and Wheels Air Show, Car Show Headlines Weekend Events

Organizers are hoping Mother Nature cooperates for the 5th annual Wings and Wheels Air Show and Car Show today. The event will be held at the Chickasha Airport and will feature a number of flying acts and a huge car show. The car show has been a big hit with more than 50 classic cars and trucks, muscle cars, and antiques entered in previous years. Registration for the car show begins at 8 a.m. and there is no fee to enter. More than a dozen trophies will be awarded. Free airplane rides for kids 8-17 will be from 9 to noon, weather permitting. There are lots of kid-friendly activities as well and several food trucks will be on hand. The air show is scheduled to start at noon. Admission and parking are free.

Elks Lodge kids fishing derby also going on

Also this morning, The Chickasha Elks Lodge will hold its annual kids fishing derby at Shannon Springs Park. The pond was stocked with 2,000 pounds of catfish yesterday with many of them at least 12 inches long. Laforge Enterprises provides the fish every year. Registration starts at 8 o'clock this morning and fishing will run from 9 a.m. to noon. Among the prizes are three lifetime fishing licenses each worth $400. One will be given away in each of three age divisions.

 

'Stamp Out Hunger' Food Drive Successful

Oklahomans in central and Western Oklahoma came through in a big way in last month's Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. Officials with the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma say the agency received more than 547,000 pounds of food and more than $70,000 as a result of the effort.  The Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive is a national program put together by the National Association of Letter Carriers in conjunction with the U.S. Postal Service. The food drive is held the second Saturday each May. All donations remain within the more than 200 communities served by the Regional Food Bank including many in the Grady and Caddo county area.  Officials say the drive helps to keep the shelves of emergency food banks stocked through the summer. Since 1992 the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive has collected more than 13 million pounds of food and raised more than $10 million to fight hunger in Oklahoma.

 

Ninnekah Fire Department to Hold Community Appreciation Meal

The Ninnekah Volunteer Fire Department will hold its community appreciation dinner tomorrow. Fire fighters will be serving free barbecue sandwich meals with dessert and drinks. Donations are welcome. There will be a number of silent auction items as well. It will be at the Ninnekah School cafeteria from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. tomorrow.

 

Obituary

Syble Harris

Funeral service for Syble Harris, 92, of Chickasha will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday, June 5th at Ferguson Funeral Home.

 

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Friday, June 2nd

 

Child Sex Crimes Suspect Surrenders

A Caddo County man charged with numerous sex crimes against children voluntarily surrendered to authorities this week. 42-year old Kelly Ryan Lee of Carnegie, charged with seven felony counts of child sexual abuse, turned himself in Wednesday. An arrest warrant for Lee was issued last Friday following an investigation by the Caddo County Sheriff’s Office. One of two alleged teenaged victims came forward last month saying that Lee assaulted him and another teenaged boy several times between November of 2020 and November of 2022. Lee is out of jail after posting a $35,000 bond. He is represented by attorney Keenan Haught of Hinton. A preliminary hearing conference is set for August. 4th.

 

State National Guard Troops Head to U.S.-Mexico Border

National Guard troops from Oklahoma and several other states will soon be headed to the U.S.-Mexico border in an attempt to prevent illegal immigrants from getting into the United States. Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt is among governors from a dozen states from Arizona to Florida who are sending a combined total of about 1,200 troops to the border. In a prepared statement, Stitt said it is in the best interest of Oklahoma and the nation to take decisive action to address the federal government's utter failure to secure the southern border. Stitt did not say how many of the state’s 2,500 National Guard troops would be dispatched. U.S. Border patrol facilities have reported record numbers of detainments as thousands of people flee violence and poverty in countries around the world.

 

Air Show, Car Show set at Chickasha Airport Tomorrow

High-flying daredevils and formation flyers are among the acts that will take to the sky over the Chickasha airport this weekend. The 5th annual Wings and Wheels Air Show and Car Show is set for tomorrow. Among the acts is the husband-and-wife team of Kyle and Liz Franklin with Franklin’s Flying Circus. They perform at airshows all over the country. Kyle is a third-generation pilot who has been around planes his whole life. He’s been performing professionally for more than 25 years starting when he was 17 years old. Franklin talks about their plane.

 

              

 

The couple actually assemble and dis-assemble the plane before and after every show. Activities at the airport begin at 8:00 a.m. with the car show. There are a lot of kid-friendly activities, free airplane rides for children 8 to 17 years old from 9 a.m. to noon, and the air show will run from about noon to 2 p.m. Numerous food trucks will be on hand. Admission and parking are free.

 

High School Rodeo State Finals in Chix This Week

Teenaged rodeo competitors are spending a few days in Chickasha for the Oklahoma High School Rodeo Association state finals. From bull riding and barrel racing, to goat tying and team roping, competitors are working to collect enough points in each event to qualify for the National High School Rodeo later this summer. Camree Slavin leads the boys’ all-around standings by more than 20 points over Dessa Hext. Heston Harrison leads the girls’ all-around competition by 24 points over Hazen Parks. The rodeo runs through Saturday evening at the Grady County Fairgrounds. The final go-round will be Saturday night with the Grand Entry at 5:45 p.m. followed by the finals at 6 p.m.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $70.10 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $72.68.

Natural gas is $2.16 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,997 and silver is $24.03.

 

Obituaries

Christopher Crawford, Jr.

A graveside service for Christopher Columbus Crawford, Jr., 88, of Hollis will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, June 3^rd at Fairmount Cemetery in Hollis. He was a U.S. military veteran. Arrangements are with Brown-Thomas Funeral Home.

 

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Thursday, June 1st

 

Chix School District Shuts Down E-mail Scam 

Chickasha school officials say they were recently notified about an e-mail account that may have been compromised.  A post on the district's Facebook page indicated that several unauthorized e-mails were sent asking recipients to click on links and attachments to provide log-in information for various accounts. Officials say they immediately disabled the account once it was discovered. The post indicated that the district will never ask for log-in credentials or other sensitive information in an e-mail. They urge individuals to take extra precaution when receiving suspicious e-mails and that it’s good practice to never open attachments or click on any links you weren't expecting to receive. They recommend changing passwords immediately if you think an account has been compromised.

 

Contractor Still Sought to Repair Chickasha Intersection

Chickasha city officials are trying to expedite work at a busy residential intersection damaged by recent rains. But they are running into some problems that are hampering their efforts. Heavy rains last month led to the damage at 14th and Missouri. That intersection has been closed as the pavement buckled and caused serious damage. While the city council declared an emergency and waived bidding requirements, City Manager Keith Johnson said they have not been able to find any contractors willing to take on the project. He said many of them have larger projects they are working on. Officials say even after they find a contractor it will take several weeks to make repairs. It's estimated the cost could  surpass $200,000.

 

Routine Maintenance to Impact H.E. Bailey Traffic

Here is a traffic advisory for motorists on the H.E. Bailey Turnpike through Chickasha. The turnpike will occasionally be narrowed to one-lane through the weekend and into early next week for routine maintenance. Tonight, southbound traffic will be affected from 7 p.m. until 7 a.m. Friday morning. Southbound traffic will again be affected from 7:00 p.m. Sunday to 7:00 a.m. Monday. Then northbound traffic will be affected from 7:00 p.m. Monday to 7:00 a.m. Tuesday.

 

Pulitzer Prize-Winning Kiowa Author

to be Honored at Oklahoma History Center

A renowned author of the Kiowa Tribe will be honored in a legacy reception at the Oklahoma History Center tonight. N. Scott Momaday was the first indigenous writer to win a Pulitzer-prize. Momaday is known worldwide as a poet, novelist, artist, teacher, and story-teller. His works celebrate and preserve American Indian heritage. His novel 'House Made of Dawn' won a Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1969. He later received a National Medal of Arts from President George W. Bush in 2007. Among those at the ceremony will be Kiowa Tribe Chairman Lawrence Spottedbird.

 

              

 

Spottebird will have the welcoming speech and Kiowa Tribe Vice Chairman Jacob Tsotigh will serve as master of ceremonies. The Black Leggings Color Guard will also be part of the program. Momaday, who lives in New Mexico, will not be able to make the trip but several family members will be in attendance.

 

Grady County Commissioners Set Surplus Sale

Grady County officials have scheduled the annual sale of surplus equipment no longer needed by various departments. Among the items up for grabs are a 1995 Ford F-350 brush truck; a 2014 Ford F-250 4X4; a rescue boat; a skid steer; an air compressor; and a lot of tires. A lot of office equipment will be on the auction block including computers and computer equipment; copiers and printers; a desk; chairs; and book cases. The surplus sale will be held at the Grady County Fairgrounds Thursday, June 15th starting at 9 a.m. Contact the Grady County clerk's office for a detailed list.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $68.09 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $72.66.

Natural gas is $2.27 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,977 and silver is $23.52.

 

Obituary

Carolyn Kay Tramell

Funeral service for Carolyn Kay Tramell, 82, of Chickasha will be at 2:00 p.m. Friday, June 2nd at Ferguson Funeral Home. She owned and operated Carolyn Kay's Flower shop for more than 30 years.

 

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Wednesday, May 31st

 

Proposed City of Chix Budgets Unveiled;

Public Hearing Scheduled Later this Month

More than $36 million is proposed for the upcoming fiscal year for the three entities within the City of Chickasha. In a special meeting last night, the city council reviewed the budget suggestions for the City of Chickasha, the Chickasha Municipal Authority, and the Chickasha Airport. The total $36 million proposal for 2023-24 is a slight increase over the current fiscal year. For the City of Chickasha, leaders have proposed increasing the general fund spending from $21.2 million to $21.4 million. Officials are projecting a slight increase in sales tax revenue for the coming year - from about $15 million to $15.3 million. City Manager Keith Johnson said the budget includes full staffing for the police department although that won't happen right away. The department has had a shortage of officers for a couple of years. The proposed police department budget includes funding for 28 patrol officers, four detectives, and administrative staff.

Slight increase proposed for CMA; slight decrease for Airport

For the Municipal Authority, the proposed spending plan grows from $15 million to $16.5 million. The proposed budget for the airport is lower - from $1.5 million to $1.2 million. Johnson said they hope to have the nearly 180-page budget posted on the city's website today for public viewing. The council is expected to hold a special meeting June 15th which will include a public hearing on the proposed budget. The spending plan must be finalized by June 20^th for the fiscal year which begins July 1st.

 

City of Chix to Acknowledge Deadly 1930 Lynching

Today is a dark day in the history of Chickasha. It was May 31, 1930 that a black man was killed in what is believed to be the last public lynching in Oklahoma. 19-year old Henry Argo was accused of attacking a white woman and her child. It's reported that as many as 2,000 people may have stormed the jail where Argo was being held. The National Guard had been called in to subdue the crowd but was unable to do so. Argo died after being shot in the head and stabbed but no one was ever arrested or held accountable for his death. City Councilman Dr. R.P. Ashanti-Alexander has been working for several years to have city officials admit that an injustice occurred in Argo’s death.

 

              

 

The city council is expected to adopt a resolution noting the tragic event during a regular meeting scheduled Monday, June 5th.

 

Caddo County Child Sex Crimes Suspect Sought

Authorities are looking for a Caddo County man wanted for multiple counts of child sex crimes. Last Friday a judge issued an arrest warrant for 42-year old Kelly Ryan Lee of the Carnegie area. The warrant was issued following an investigation by the Caddo County Sheriff's Office. One of two alleged victims came forward earlier this month saying the Lee assaulted him several times between November of 2018 and November of 2021. Lee is facing seven felony counts of child sexual abuse.  A photograph of Lee was posted on the sheriff's office Facebook page. The post also indicated that Lee may be driving one of two vehicles - a dark gray GMC four-door pick up with an OU tag on the front - or a blue, two-door Pontiac. He may be pulling a small bumper-pull travel trailer as he is known to frequent area lakes. Authorities say Lee should not be approached and anyone with information about him is asked to reach out to local law enforcement.

 

Charges Filed After Man Shoots at Neighbor

A Chickasha man accused of shooting at his neighbor is facing two charges in connection with the incident. 46-year old Jonathan O’Neal Bridges was arrested at his home last Friday night after police responded to a shots-fired call near 6^th and Illinois Ave. No one was injured. Bridges is already on probation after pleading guilty to a drug charge stemming from a 2015 arrest. He now is facing a felony charge of possessing a firearm while on probation and a misdemeanor for the reckless handling of a firearm. His bond was set at $25,000.

 

Hit-and-Run DUI Suspect Arrested, Charged

Tuttle police arrest a suspected drinking driver following a hit-and-run that happened Monday night. It happened on State Highway 37 about three miles east of downtown Tuttle. Assistant Police Chief Michael Scott said the suspect ran a stop sign at Cemetery Road and broadsided an east-bound pickup. The suspect drove away but a witness called police and followed the vehicle for about a mile before police pulled him over. 22-year old Brian Shane McConnell of Tuttle reportedly told police he had three or four beers and refused to take a field-sobriety test. McConnell has been charged with a felony for leaving the scene of an injury accident and a misdemeanor for DUI. His bond was set at $100,000. The driver of the pick-up that was hit suffered a minor shoulder injury and refused medical treatment from paramedics.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $69.46 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $73.54.

Natural gas is $2.33 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,975 and silver is $23.36.

 

Obituaries

Jean Vonzell Johnson

Funeral service for Jean Vonzell Johnson, 67, of Anadarko will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, June 3rd at the First Baptist Church of Anadarko. Arrangements are with Brown Thomas Funeral Home.

Kathy Spivey

A memorial service for Kathy Spivey, 64, of the Chickasha and Amber area will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, June 3rd at the Dibble Middle School Gymnasium. She was an advocate for people with disabilities and worked with boards under three governors to promote equality for all.

Justin Powell

A memorial service Justin Powell, 41, of Chickasha will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday June 5^th at Sevier Funeral Home.

Juanita Hicks-Brown

Funeral service for Juanita Hicks-Brown, 90, of Chickasha will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, June 10th at Shepherd Street Christian Church. Arrangements are with Brown-Thomas Funeral Home.

 

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Tuesday, May 30th

 

Memorial Day Ceremony Honors

Military Personnel Who Died in Service

A ceremony paying respect to those who died during active duty in the U.S. military was held in Chickasha on Memorial Day yesterday. The forecast for rain and the showers that did fall prior to the ceremony forced officials to move the program from the Grady County Veterans Memorial at Shannon Springs Park indoors at the Chickasha Elks Lodge. Sherri Lewis with the Oklahoma Veterans Recognition Committee said the ceremony honors the millions of fallen and injured military personnel and the thousands who are still considered missing.

 

              

 

The names of the more than 160 Grady County individuals who died while serving their country were read aloud. Guest speaker Zach Grayson, a veteran of the U.S. Army Reserves, urged individuals to contact elected state and national officials to urge lawmakers to support legislation which ensures that wounded veterans receive their disability benefits.

 

Chix City Council to Consider Extending Deadline

for Firms to Submit Qualifications for Water Plant Design

At Chickasha City Hall officials are asking to extend a deadline related to construction plans of the city's proposed multi-million dollar water treatment plant. It's among several topics to be discussed in special meetings of the Chickasha City Council and the municipal authority tonight. Officials have been asked to extend a deadline for engineering firms to submit requests for qualifications that want to participate. The original deadline was May 19^th but officials are asking to extend it until Friday, June 9th. Firms are being asked to submit designs for a more than $70 million water treatment plant. The State Department of Environmental Quality issued consent orders in December of 2021 directing the city to deal with a number of deficiencies at the plant which is about 60 years old.

Budgets and MOU with Caddo Nation discussions also to be held

The council will also discuss proposed budgets for the municipal authority and the airport authority for the upcoming fiscal year which begins July 1st. The panel will also consider a memorandum of understanding with the Caddo Nation for a mutual aid partnership when it comes to emergency management assistance. The special meetings will get underway at 6:30 tonight at city hall.

 

State Lawmakers Pass Record Budget

Oklahoma state lawmakers wrapped up the 2023 legislative session as required last week. They passed a record budget of nearly $13 billion with education and teachers being among the big winners. Lawmakers added $625 million to the education budget with about $285 million of that going for teacher pay raises. Public school teachers will receive raises between $3,000 and $6,000 based on years of experience. They'll also get six weeks paid maternity leave which is a first.

 

Lawmakers Over-ride Some Gubernatorial Vetoes

State lawmakers over-rode more than a dozen gubernatorial vetoes. Among them are those which will continue state funding for the Oklahoma Education Television Authority (OETA) for public television and one that will provide protections for Native American students who want to wear tribal regalia at public school graduation ceremonies.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $72.67 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $76.95.

Natural gas is $2.18 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,971 and silver is $23.37.